abdicate

[ ab-di-keyt ]

verb (used without object)

, ab·di·cat·ed, ab·di·cat·ing.

1. to renounce or relinquish a throne, right, power, claim, responsibility, or the like, especially in a formal manner:

   The aging founder of the firm decided to abdicate.

   Synonyms: quit, resign

verb (used with object)

, ab·di·cat·ed, ab·di·cat·ing.

1. to give up or renounce (authority, duties, an office, etc.), especially in a voluntary, public, or formal manner:

   King Edward VIII of England abdicated the throne in 1936.

   Synonyms: repudiate, abandon

abdicate

/ ˈæbdɪˌkeɪt; ˈæbdɪkəbəl; æbˈdɪkətɪv /

verb

1. to renounce (a throne, power, responsibility, rights, etc), esp formally

Derived Forms

• abdicative, adjective
• abdicable, adjective
• ˈabdiˌcator, noun
• ˌabdiˈcation, noun

Other Words From

• ab·di·ca·ble [ab, -di-k, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• ab·di·ca·tive [ab, -di-key-tiv, -k, uh, -], adjective
• abdi·cator noun
• non·abdi·cative adjective
• un·abdi·cated adjective
• un·abdi·cating adjective
• un·abdi·cative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of abdicate¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin abdicāt(us) “renounced,” past participle of abdicāre “to renounce,” from ab- ab- + dicāre “to indicate, consecrate”

Word History and Origins

Origin of abdicate¹

C16: from the past participle of Latin abdicāre to proclaim away, disclaim

Example Sentences

In her acceptance speech Harris also said, “I will make sure that we lead the world into the future on space and artificial intelligence; that America, not China, wins the competition for the 21st century; and that we strengthen, not abdicate, our global leadership.”

From Slate

The finale of “The Crown,” titled “Sleep, Dearie, Sleep,” features Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles’ wedding, but creator Peter Morgan says it’s a pretext for the queen wrestling with whether or not to abdicate the throne.

From Los Angeles Times

“I’m just amazed. We could have so much power to do things that are good for California. And yet, it seems like we abdicate some of that because we don’t get together on a regular basis,” Obernolte said.

From Los Angeles Times

“The Kaiser must abdicate, otherwise we shall have the revolution,” he was told.

From Literature

On November 7, with Berlin and other German cities in turmoil and Kaiser Wilhelm about to abdicate, a German delegation crossed the frontline under a flag of truce to meet with Marshal Ferdinand Foch, commander in chief of the Allied armies, in his railroad carriage in the forest of Compiègne, north of Paris.

From Literature

Related Words

• forgo
• relinquish
• renounce
• step down
• vacate